Quick Movie Reviews

Released in 1930, this classic war piece slightly let me down. This is a very good movie, no doubt. The visual effects and battle sequences were fantastic, especially for a film that is over 80 years old. The visuals were even better than another great WW1 classic, Wings, which also blew me away. This film was completely ahead of its time. Also, the message is very powerful. This is one of the absolute best anti-war films around, even in its old age. But, the acting was mediocre and the dialogue bordered on terrible at times.

A few scenes share some reminiscent qualities to one of my favorite war films 'Paths of Glory'. Both exist as a certain type of 'anti' war movie that don't preach peace, but rather point out the wrongness of war through the despair of the characters. The battle scenes are realistically violent for the time it was made. Not overtly bloody, just very effective at portraying the ugliness. The frightened nature of the young soldiers and the stern attitude of the generals collide into emotional moments that accurately portray a confused morality. The subdued, honest perspective of the material helps the messages in the film resonate still to this day.

Despite its age, this films still resonates well today with a powerful anti-war message that is at odds with many other films. Thanks to some great performances, notably Lewis Ayres, it manages to overcome its limitations and really present an honest look at war.

Full Movie Reviews

A far more brutal film than Saving Private Ryan, which is probably the greatest war film of all time. I prefer Platoon, but to each his own. This is a WW1 film told from the German POV. A boy must make a choice, to join the war effort, or not. His whole class chooses to go the to front line after a riveting speech from their teacher.

Once there, he learns that the war is not all that it's made out to be. All of his friends that joined are killed, except for him. He goes home and realizes that everyone back home is a master war tactician, but they just won't/can't believe the boy who was actually there. This to me is the best part of the film. When he realizes that after witnessing what he has, he's actually more comfortable in the trenches than he is in his own home. You here ...

"It felt so good to be alive." It starts with boys being recruited in school. Much like Full Metal Jacket, the commanding officer was very strict, though lacked the personality unlike the one in the aforementioned Kubrick masterpiece. Not enough background of the soldiers unlike films like Platoon, Apocalypse Now or even Thin Red Line.

Though the film has an earnest message and may have been pioneering for its genre, its humor, performances and pace have dated. Sluggish storytelling is a pain to watch coupled with a few coy moments with the soldiers dialogues and gestures make them effeminate. It doesn't boast of any memorable soundtrack but substitutes it with realistic war sequences. The screenplay was its strength with lines: "War is war." "When it comes to dying for country,...